Power transmitting apparatus



Feb. 14, 1967 c. T. REEVES, JR

POWER TRANSMITTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed DGO. 17, 1964 l r ll i mwlm Ilm@ i rl l Nllwwl l I l l Feb, 14, 1967 c. T. REEVES, JR

POWER TRANSMITTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 17, 1964 6 mw.F

ATTORNEY5 United States Patent 3,303,724 POWER TRANSMITTING APPARATUSCarroll T. Reeves, Jr., P.0. Box 608, East Setauket, N.Y. 11785 FiledDec. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 419,123 8 Claims. (Cl. 74-687) This inventionrelates to a power transmitting apparatus or coupling.

It is an object of this invention to provide .an all gear transmission:apparatus having means for continuously `varying the ratio of couplingin either direction from a condition of maximum rotation of input shaftand zero rotation of an output shaft to the condition of rotation ofoutput shaft greater than input shaft.

It is another object of this invention to provide a power transmitting:apparatus which is capable of coupling a variable power source to aconstant load, a constant power source to a varying load, or a variablepower source to a variable load.

It is another object of this invention to provide a power transmittingapparatus in which the power flow can be simply controlled by control offluid flow and which is theoretically instantaneously reversi-ble.

Anot-her object of the present invention is to provide a powertransmitting apparatus which combines the power transmission efficiencyof gearing with the shock resistant capability of fluid coupling.

Another object of this invention is to present a power transmittinglapparatus which provides an all gear transmission with infinitelyvarying power to load ratioin either direction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a power transmittingapparatus which is simple of construction and in which there issubstantially no slippage.

A power transmitting apparatus constructed in accordance with theteachings of this invention and the method of using the same isdescribed herein with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. l is a partially diagrammatic perspective view of a powertransmitting apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the power transmittingapparatus shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a'partially sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in thedirection of the arrows as seen in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional View taken along the line 4-4 in thedirection of the arrows as seen in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional View taken along the line 5-5 in thedirection of the arrows as seen in FIG. 2;

and

FIG. 6 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in thedirection of the arrows as seen in FIG. 2.

In the power transmitting apparatus shown in the figures the numerals10= and '11 designate pumping units and the numeral 12 designates thetransmission portion of the apparatus.

The apparatus is supported by posts 13, 14, 15 and 16 with pump 10between posts 13 and 14, pump 11 between posts 15 and 16, andtransmission portion 12 between posts 14 and 15.

The transmission portion 12 includes a gear type pump 18 having a casing19 with ends 20 and 21, and elongated meshing `gea-rs 22 and 23supported by shafts 24 and 25 respectively. Shaft 24 is rotatablysupported in bearings 26 and 27 in the ycasing ends and shaft 25 isrotatably supported in bearings 28 and 29 in the casing ends. Pinion 30is fixed to the free end of shaft 24 which projects through casing endand meshes with the teeth of gear 31 in an internal contact. Gear 31 iskeyed at 32 to shaft 33 which is supported by post 14 in bearings 34,

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35 and 36. At the remaining end of the transmission portion of theapparatus pinion 37 is xed to the free end of shaft 25 which projectsthrough casing end 21 and meshes with the teeth of gear 38 in aninternal contact. Gear 38 is keyed at 39 to shaft 40 which is supportedby post 15 in bearings 41, 42 and 43.

End ,bearing 44 in case end 20 receives the end of shaft 33 and endbearing 45 in case end 21 receives the end of shaft 40 so that casing 19is free to rotate with respect to supporting shafts 33 and 40.

Shaft 40 runs through housing 46 of pump 11 and elongated spur gear 47is keyed thereto. Housing 46 also contains elongated spur gears 48 and49 which are keyed to shafts 50 land 51 which are rotatably supported inhousing 46 so that the teeth of gears 48 and 49 mesh with the teeth ofgear 47 to provide therewith a hydraulic pump with housing 46 rigidlyfastened to post 15 by angle lbracket 52. The remaining end of shaft 40is rotatably supported in post 16 by bearing 53.

Likewise pump 10, which is identical to pump 11, has its housing 54rigidly fastened to post 14 by angle bracket 55 and is supported byshaft 33 which runs therethrough with its end rotatably supported inpost 13 by bearing 56.

Shaft 40 is provided with voids 57, 58 and 59 with void 57 communicatingwith the interior of housing 46 through passages 60' and 61 and void 58communicating with the interior of housing 46 through passages 60a and61a formed in the housing ends. Pump 10 being identical to pump 11, isprovided with passages in the ends of its housing to communicate theinterior thereof with voids 62 and 63 formed in shaft 33 in which void64 is also provided. Voids 64 and 59 respectively communicate with theinterior of casing 19 through passages 65 land 66 formed in the ends 20yand 21 respectively. Appropriate seals are provided throughout so thathy- -draulic fluid within the voids or the housings or casings will notleak out.

Post 14 -contains hydraulic lines 67 and 68 which -respectivelycommunicate with voids 63 and 64 through orifices 69 and 70 formed inthe post. Lines 67 and 68 are connected externally of post 14 to control81 which can direct lines 68 and 68 to sump 80 or connect the linestogether in accordance with the desired control setting. Control isprovided in line 68 to allow control of the volume of flow through line68. Post 15 contains hydraulic lines 71 and 72 which are respectivelycommunieating with voids 59 and 58 through orices 73 and 74 formed inpost 15. Line 71 is shown in 4solid lines connected to common sump 80.Post 13 contains hydraulic line 76 which communicates sump 80 with void62 through orice 77 formed in the post. Post 16 contains hydraulic line78 which connects with void 57 through orifice 79 formed in post 16.

In order to describe the operation of the system gear 38 will belconsidered as the load to be driven by -gear 31. Considering rst thesituation with control 81 set for lines 67 and 68 to communicate withthe sump.

With shaft 33 rotated by power source 82 and the hydraulic fluidpermitted to flow freely, rotation of gear 31 will rotate gear 3G andcause casing 19 to rotate about its axis provided by shafts 33 and 40 atits maximum speed with gear 37 riding inside the gear 38. Gear 38 willnot be -rotated as gear 37 will ride freely in it. Under suchcircumstances no power is transmitted from shaft 33 to shaft 40 andfluid will flow freely from sump 80 through line 71, void 59, theinterior of casing 19, void 64 and line 68 to return to t-he common sump80. If, however, the 'hydraulic fluid is prevented from freely moving`through the system by operation of hydraulic control 75 the shaft 40begins to rotate at stoppage of flow through line 68, shaft 33, case 19and shaft 40 all rotate at the same speed. Gears 22 and 23 arehydraulically locked and power can now be transmitted from shaft 33 toshaft 40 since gears 30 and 37 will not be free to move and -rotation ofgear 31 will result in rotation of case 19 and gear 3S at speed of'gear31. then in this situation maximum power is transmitted via transmission12. Intermediate operation can be achieved through partial restrictionof flow of iiuid so that gears 22 and 23 can rotate allowing the casing19 to be rotated, although the Irotation will be limited by the frictionof the fiuid within the casing and the inability of gears 22 and 23 torotate freely.

The next situation to be considered in describing the yoperation of thedevi-ce is with control 81 set so that hydraulic lines 67 and 68 areinterconnected. In this situation rotation of shaft 33 by power source82 allows the resultant pumping action of pumpl to pump hydraulic fiuidfrom sump 80 through line 76, cavity 62, housing 54, cavity 63, lines 67and 68, cavity 64, casing 219, cavity'59 and line 71 tothe common sump80. This will result in motorizing transmission 12 causing gear 38 'andshaft 40 to be rotated faster than gear 31 and shaft 33. Y

In the absence of pumping action of pump 10 and in 'the condition whereboth hydraulic lines 67 and 68 'are connected to the sump and going fromzero load to maximum load on the output shaft-the friction intransmission .12 adds to the efiiciency of the unit. In Igoing above al1 to 1 ratio-in the presence of pumping action of pump '10 the frictiondecreases the efficiency.

The system is reversible and providing controls 75 and T81 in lines 71and 72 functionally identical to control '75 and 81 will allow reverseoperation of the unit.

Thus it is seen that there has been provided a power 'transmission.apparatus capable of coupling a variable power source to a constantload or vice versa and in which the power fiow is theoreticallyinstantaneously reversible. The efficiency of gearing with the shockresistant capability of fluid coupling has lbeen achieved in a simpledevice exhibiting substantially no slippage.

Thus lamong others the several objects as specifically aforenoted areachieved. Obviously, vnumerous changes and modifications can be resortedto without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by theclaims.

I claim:

1. In a power transmission apparatus an input shaft `and -an outputshaft, input andV output .facing internal `gears mounted respectively onsaid input land' output shafts, input and output pinions Yengagingrespectively with said input and output internal gears, first and secondparallel shafts of said input and output pinions respectively, rst andsecond meshing elongated gears mounted on said first and second shaftsrespectively, a casing surrounding said elongated rgears, first andsecond casing ends, said pinion shafts supported by said casing endswith said pinions outwardly thereof, said input land output shaftslrotatably supporting `said first and second casing ends respectively,first and second hydraulic conduit means throughV said first and secondcasingrends respectively, hydraulic fluid supply means to said hydraulicconduit means whereby upon rotation of said input shaft hydraulic fluidfrom said hydraulic fiuid supply means will flow in said hydraulicconduit means and said Casin-g will rotate and said output shaft remainstationary, and blocking means for obstructing said fluid supply meanswhereby a hydraulic lock will be formed Ibetween said elongated gearsand sai-d output shaft will be rotated through said facing gears, saidpinions and said elongated gears.

2. In a power transmission apparatus, input and output gears, input andoutput pinions engaging respectively with said input and output gears,rst and second shafts of said input and output pinions respectively,first and second meshing gears mounted on said first and second shaftsrespectively, a casing surrounding said meshing gears, first and secondcasing ends, said pinion shafts supported by said casing ends with saidpinions outwardly It can be seen, therefore,V

thereof, said casing being rotatably supported, first and second:hydraulic conduits respectively communicating with the interior of saidcasin hydraulic liuid within said hydraulic conduits and said casingwhereby upon rotation of said input :gear hydraulic iiuid will fiowthrough said conduits and said casing and said casing will rotate andsaid output gear remain stationary, and blocking means for obstructingfiow of fluid in said Iconduits and said casing whereby a hydraulic'lock will be formed between said meshing gears and said output gearwill be rotated through said pinions and said meshing gears.

3. A power transmission apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in whichsaid first hydraulic conduit communicates with said casing at said firstcasing end and said second hydraulic conduit communicates with saidcasing at said second casing end and normal flow of fiuid is from saidsecond conduit through said casing to said first conduit.

4. A power transmission apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in whichsaid blocking means is in said first conduit.

5. A power transmission 4apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in whichhydraulic pum-p means is provided for pumping fluid from said firstconduit through said casing to said second conduit and control means areprovided for :communicating said pump means with said first conduit.

6. A power transmission apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in whichsaid input and output gears are mounted on input .and output shaftsrespectively `and said input and output shafts support said casing, saidinput and output shafts being provided with first and Second voidsvrespectively forming portions of said first and second hydraulicconduits.

7. A power transmission apparatus in accordance with Y claim 5 in whichsecond hydraulic pump means is provided for pumping fiuid from saidsecond conduit through said casing to said first conduit to reverse thedirection of power flow in the apparatus.

8. In a power .transmission apparatus an input shaft, means for drivingsaid input shaft in rotary motion, a first hydraulic pump mounted onsaid input shaft and driven thereby, an input internal gear mounted onsaid input shaft, an output shaft, a casing rotatably supported by saidinput Vand output shafts, an output internal gear mounted on said outputshaft, input and output pinions engaging respectively with said inputand output internal Igears, Vfirst and second pinion shafts respectivelyprojecting within said casing, first and secon-d meshing gears withinsaid casing mounted on said pinion shafts respectively, a sump, a firsthydraulic conduit from said sump `to said first hydraulic pump, a secondhydraulic conduit from said pump,

a third hydraulic conduit Vout of said .casing to said sump, a fourthhydraulic conduit into said casing, a first control means forinterconnecting said second and fourth conduits and for directing saidsecond and fourth conduits to said sump and second control means forinhibiting fiow of fluid in said fourth hydraulic conduit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,834,653 12/1931Schreiner 74-774 1,883,685 10/1932 Gasterstadt 74-794 2,219,984 1071940Fersing 74--687 2,285,466 6/1942 Schwarzbach 74-774 2,536,200 1/1951McDonald 192-61 FOREIGN PATENTS 593,536 3/1934 Germany v450,488 7/ 1936Great Britain.

DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

T. C. PERRY, Assistant Examiner.

8. IN A POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS AN INPUT SHAFT, MEANS FOR DRIVINGSAID INPUT SHAFT ROTARY MOTION, A FIRSTHYDRAULIC PUMP MOUNTED ON SAIDINPUT SHAFT AND DRIVEN THEREBY, AN INPUT INTERNAL GEAR MOUNTED ON SAIDINPUT SHAFT, AN OUTPUT SHAFT, A CASING ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID INPUTAND OUTPUT SHAFTS, AN OUTPUT INTERNAL GEAR MOUNTED ON SAID OUTPUT SHAFT,INPUT AND OUTPUT PINIONS ENGAGING RESPECTIVELY WITH SAID INPUT ANDOUTPUT INTERNAL GEARS, FIRST AND SECOND PINION SHAFTS RESPECTIVELYPROJECTING WITHIN SAID CASING, FIRST AND SECOND MESHING GEARS WITHINSAID CASING MOUNTED ON SAID PINION SHAFTS RESPECTIVELY, A SUMP, A FIRSTHYDRAULIC CONDUIT FROM SAID SUMP TO SAID FIRST HYDRAULIC PUMP, A SECONDHYDRAULIC CONDUIT FROM SAID PUMP, A THIRD HYDRAULIC CONDUIT OUT OF SAIDCASING TO SAID SUMP, A FOURTH HYDRAULIC CONDUIT INTO SAID CASING, AFIRST CONTROL MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID SECOND AND FOURTH CONDUITSAND FOR DIRECTING SAID SECOND AND FOURTH CONDUITS TO SAID SUMP ANDSECOND CONTROL MEANS FOR INHIBITING FLOW OF FLUID IN SAID FOURTHHYDRAULIC CONDUIT.